The Redondo Beach. California, United States 1st United Methodist Church eNews: 2nd Sunday of Advent, Church Party on Sunday "This Sunday: Making Christmas Meaningful; Free Advent Party for everyone" for Thursday, 1 December 2016From Pastor Molly: "Preparing Peace"
As a part of this year's Advent devotional, I've been posting inspiring stories on our website all week (and sharing them on Facebook). I have to admit: it's been really good for my spirit. There are so many little signs of hope growing in communities and projects throughout the world: refugees starting community gardens, people literally turning weapons into garden tools, progress toward fair wages and conditions for farm workers. These stories inspire me to look for the good things, wherever they are growing, and help nurture and cultivate them more. You can follow along with them, too (www.beachfaith.com/adventstories).
I’ve also been feeling good because Risa and I have a big pot of soup cooking in the kitchen today—pozole, which we will share at the “Joy to the World” Advent Event on Sunday afternoon. Warm and nourishing, the delicious smell has made me feel comfort and warmth, too. Taking time to prepare food to share with others has made me feel better about everything. This is adding to the amazing feeling I got, watching George load up all the rest of the Christmas gifts for Corazon families, which he and Peggy will take to their Christmas Fiesta in Tijuana on Saturday.
I wish you a similar joy this Advent season, that you’d find ways to grow and prepare things that give life to others, and to yourself.
Certainly, I encourage you to join us for the Advent Event on Sunday, where there will be lots of ways to make things, together.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Molly Vetter
I am so grateful to Rev. Nicole Reilley, who will preach in worship this Sunday; I'll be off for the day, enjoying time with extended family over the Thanksgiving holiday.
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In Worship This Week
Sunday, December 4
Second Sunday of Advent
"Preparing Peace"
Rev. Molly Vetter, preaching
Isaiah 2:1-5
Scripture Text: Isaiah 2:1 This is the word that Yesha‘yahu the son of Amotz saw concerning Y’hudah and Yerushalayim:
2 In the acharit-hayamim
the mountain of Adonai’s house
will be established as the most important mountain.
It will be regarded more highly than the other hills,
and all the Goyim will stream there.
3 Many peoples will go and say,
“Come, let’s go up to the mountain of Adonai,
to the house of the God of Ya‘akov!
He will teach us about his ways,
and we will walk in his paths.”
For out of Tziyon will go forth Torah,
the word of Adonai from Yerushalayim.
4 He will judge between the nations
and arbitrate for many peoples.
Then they will hammer their swords into plow-blades
and their spears into pruning-knives;
nations will not raise swords at each other,
and they will no longer learn war.
5 Descendants of Ya‘akov, come!
Let’s live in the light of Adonai!
John Wesley's Notes-Commentary: Isaiah 2:1-5
Verse 1
[1] In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
I saw — In a vision.
The Lord — The Divine Majesty as he subsisteth in three persons.
His train — His royal and judicial robe; for he is represented as a judge.
Verse 2
[2] Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
Stood — As ministers attending upon their Lord.
Seraphim — An order of holy angels, thus called from fire and burning, which this word properly signifies; to represent either their nature, which is bright and glorious, subtile, and pure; or their property, of fervent zeal for God's service and glory.
Covered — Out of profound reverence.
Verse 3
[3] And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Cried — Singing in consort.
Holy — This is repeated thrice, to intimate the Trinity of persons united in the Divine essence.
Glory — Of the effects and demonstrations of his glorious holiness, as well as of his power, wisdom, and goodness.
Verse 4
[4] And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
The posts — Together with the door itself. Such violent motions were commonly tokens of God's anger.
Smoak — Which elsewhere is a token of God's presence and acceptance, but here of his anger.
Verse 5
[5] Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
l am — I am a great sinner, as many other ways, so particularly by my lips. I am an unclean branch of an unclean tree; besides my own uncleanness, I have both by my omissions and commissions involved myself in the guilt of their sins.
Have seen — The sight of this glorious and holy God gives me cause to fear that he is come to judgment against me.
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8:30am in Epworth Lounge
10:30am in the Sanctuary
Special Music: "How Lovely Are the Messengers" by Felix Mendelssohn, and "Lo, How A Rose," with guest Jay Cooper on alto sax
"How Lovely Are the Messengers" by Felix Mendelssohn
10:30am in the Sanctuary
Special Music: "How Lovely Are the Messengers" by Felix Mendelssohn, and "Lo, How A Rose," with guest Jay Cooper on alto sax
"How Lovely Are the Messengers" by Felix Mendelssohn
Overture
2. chorus Herr, der du bist der Gott (Lord! Thou alone art God)
Herr! Der Du bist der Gott, der Himmel und
Erde und das Meer gemacht hat.
Die Heiden lehnen sich auf, Herr wider Dich
Und nun, Herr, siehe an ihr Droh'n und gieb
Deinen knechten, mitt aller Freudigkeit zu
reden Dein Wort.
Lord Thou alone art God, and Thine are the
Heaven, and the earth and the mighty waters.
The Heathens furiously rage, Lord, against Thee,
And against Thy Christ.
Now behold, lest our foes prevail, and grant to
Thy servants all the strength and joyfullness, that
they may preach Thy Word
3. choral Allein Gott in der Höh' sei Ehr' (To God on high)
Allein Gott in der Höh'sei Ehr
Und dank für seine Gnade:
Darum, daß nun und nimmermehr
Uns rühren kann kein Schade.
Ganz unermess'nn ist seine Macht,
Nur das geschieht, was er bedacht.
Wohl uns, wohl uns des Herren!
To God on high be thanks and praise,
Who deigns out bonds to sever,
His cares our drooping souls uprise
And harm shall reach us never.
On Him we rest, with faith assur'd,
For ever and for ever.
4. recitative Die Menge der Gläubigen war ein Herz; Wir haben ihn gehört (And the many that Believed)
Die Menge der Gläubigen war ein Herz und
eine Seele, Stephanus aber, voll Glauben
und Kräfte, tat Wunder vor dem Volk, und
die Schriftgelehrten vermochten nich zu
widersteh'n der Weisheit und dem Geist, aus
welchen er redete; da richteten sie zu etliche
Männer, die da sprachen: And the many that believed were of one heart, and
of one soul. And Stephen, full of faith and full of
power, did great wonders among the people.
And they of the Synagogue were not able to resist
the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spaker.
Then they suborned men who were false
witnesses, which said:
Wir haben ihn gehört Lästerwörte reden wider
Diese heil'ge Stätte und das Gesetz
5. chorus Dieser Mensch hört nicht auf zu reden (Now this man ceaseth not)
Dieser Mensch hört nicht auf zu reden
Lästerwörte wider Mose und wider Gott.
Haben wir wuch night mit Ernst geboten, daß ihr
nicht solltet lehren in diesem Namen ? Und sehet,
ihr habt Jerusalem erfüllt mit eurer Lehre.
Denn wir haben ihn hören sagen: Jesus von
Nazareth wird diese Stätte zerstören, und ändern
die Sitten, die uns Mose gegeben hat
And lo! ye have filled Jerusalem throughout with
your unlawful doctrine! He hath said, and our
ears have heard him: Jesus of Nazareth, He shall
destroy all these our holy places, and change all
the customs which Moses delivered us
"Lo, How A Rose" by Translator: Theodore Baker
1. Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming
From tender stem hath sprung!
Of Jesse's lineage coming
As men of old have sung.
It came, a flower bright,
Amid the cold of winter
When half-gone was the night.
2. Isaiah 'twas foretold it,
The Rose I have in mind:
With Mary we behold it,
The virgin mother kind.
To show God's love aright
She bore to men a Savior
When half-gone was the night.
3. This Flower, whose fragrance tender
With sweetness fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor
The darkness everywhere.
True man, yet very God,
From sin and death He saves us
And lightens every load
Listen to Sermons onlineVisit our Website
News From Our Members
Lay Looker is taking a break this week.
Read past columns here
Read Columns from our former Lay Leader, Johnna Kosnoff, here!
Coming at Church
We are currently recruiting church groups and individuals from the congregation to help make the event happen: clean-up, to host tables during the event time! Visit our Sign-Up to see how you can help.
Want to donate supplies for gingerbread house decorating?
Sign up here.
All-in-One Advent Fun is Going Global this Year!
Join us for "Joy to the World," an all-church Advent celebration on Sunday, December 4, from 4-6pm. This year, we'll share soup and snacks from around the world, plus enjoy making crafts, singing songs and sharing in fellowship. Ten Thousand Villages will set up a booth, selling fair trade crafts from around the world, too!
We will have 3 types of soup from around the world, and we invite everyone to bring a side dish or dessert to share. We hope you might bring a special Christmas treat that comes from your own culture's tradition!
I invite you to make all this season of busyness even more meaningful. Not just lovely, but life-changing. Not a burden of obligations, but a life-giving invitation to be a part of what God is doing.
I believe we can use all the activities of the season for something more than a Christmas party; I believe we can use it to help make the world ready for the coming of Christ’s kingdom.[Pastor Molly]
Make Christmas Meaningful
We have prepared a free Advent devotional for you to use at home. It's designed for people of all ages, to use alone, with your family or in a small group. You can pick up a copy on Sunday, or visit our website to find it online!
The devotional includes a reading for each week, along with questions for thought and conversation, and activities--as well as a page for drawing and imagining. Every day, we're posting a new story of inspiration on our site and on Facebook! (Follow and share!)
Thank you, Christmas Angels!
Thank you to all who made monetary and gift donations for this Saturday's Corazon Christmas party in Mexico. We were able to donate almost 100 gifts this year! A special thank you to George and Peggy Mercerfor their dedication to this wonderful cause that provides shelter and a sense of community for so many. Merry Christmas!
Children's Christmas Pageant:
Sunday, Dec 11 at 10:30!
Our children will present their annual Christmas Pageant during our 10:30 worship service on Sunday, December 11.
Please plan to join us then--invite your friends and neighbors, too!
Acolyte Training December 22!
All 4th-8th graders are invited to be trained to serve the church as Acolytes.
Training will be from 3:30-4:30, December 22nd in the sanctuary. Those who have already been trained as acolytes can arrive at 4:00.
Join us for a fun and informative meeting with Pastor Molly and we'll prepare to serve on Christmas Eve and through out the year as well!
Worship with us on Christmas Eve at 5pm and 11pm
Both worship times will include favorite carols, the Christmas story and candlelight. At 11pm, the choir will sing and we will share Communion.
"The Christmas Story" Dec 18 at 10:30
Our Choir will share "The Christmas Story" as arranged by Roger Wagner during our 10:30 worship on Sunday December 18. This classic telling of the Christmas story will include our congregation's tradition of a "Walk to the Manger."
Sunday, December 18, 3-5pm
Pastor Molly and her family invite you to an open house at the parsonage (513 Faye Ln) . From the open house, we'll go out in groups to sing carols at the homes of some of our older and homebound members.
One Worship Service at 10:30: Christmas Day and New Year's Day
On Sundays December 25 and January 1, we will have just one worship service, at 10:30am in the sanctuary. Kids will be with us in worship!
Poinsettias for Christmas
Our church will be decorated with poinsettias for Advent and Christmas. Beginning this Sunday, you may order plants and dedicate them in honor or memory of someone special. The cost of each poinsettia is $9. Look for the order form in this week's bulletin or order online here.
Book Club: We are planning a pre-Christmas party at the home of Sally Donner on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 7pm. The book to be discussed is F. Backman's "A Man Called Ove," which has been a bestseller this year.
More info, email Ann.
Better Together: Pledge Campaign for 2017 Update
Thank you to everyone who has given a pledge of financial support to the church for 2017. So far, we have received 65 pledges, for $271,830.; we are grateful to have received several pledges from people who have never pledged before! We hope to receive $300,000 in pledges, to support an annual ministry budget of $500,000.
We invite you to consider making a pledge of financial support to our church for 2017, if you haven't already.When you make a pledge of giving to the church, at least two things happen. It helps put your faith at the center of your financial decisions, because giving to the church is something you plan from the beginning. It also helps us as a congregation, to make more strategic plans for ministry for the coming year. We hope you will give prayerful thought to whether this is a step you are willing to take.
-Your 2016 Stewardship Team: Gary Baughman, Deirdre Briese, Grace and Jon Saari, Holly Walters, Stephen Hale and Pastor Molly Vetter
Online Giving Options
Did you know there are two good ways to give to the church online?
Give through OnRealm, our church directory and database. Arrange one-time or recurring donations, via bank transfer.
Give through our website, via PayPal.
An Invitation to Church Membership!
Pastor Molly is planning to receive new members into our congregation this Sunday, December 4; if you are interested in joining the church or in knowing more about what that means, please contact her!
Memorial Service: Vicky Hunter
We will hold a memorial service for Vicky Hunter on Saturday, December 3 at 1pm in the sanctuary, with a reception to follow in Epworth Lounge. Vicky was the daughter of longtime church leaders Darlene and Jim Hunter, and was involved in the church in her youth. She is survived by her sister Shirley (Ron) Wielin and brother Ken Hunter.Announcements
Men's Breakfast: Our next breakfast is Monday, December 5, at 7AM. Coco's Restaurant, 18120 Hawthorne Blvd. (Hawthorne and 182nd). All men of the church and their friends are welcome to join us for fellowship.
Prayer Quilt Ministry: Know someone in need of prayer? You can sponsor a free prayer quilt for them. Next Quilt Workshop: Friday, December 9, 10am-noon.--if you haven't tried quilt-making, this is a great easy way to begin. More information is online.
Meals and More: Did you know that we have a ministry that organizes meals and other assistance for church folks in times of need? In the past, we've helped arrange rides to medical appointments, meals for people recovering from surgery, and more. Leila Grantz coordinates this ministry, using online sign-up tools. If you want to be a part of the group that she emails when there is an opportunity to help, or if you know someone who's in need of a little help, please contact the church office or Leila.
This Week: Children, Youth & Adults
Nursery (6 weeks+): The Nursery is open during both services, for ages 6 weeks to 6 yrs old. Located right off of the parking lot across from Epworth Lounge. Any questions email the Nursery Coordinator: Adriana Hwang
Children's Ministry (age 3 - 3rd Grade) Meet us for Christmas Pageant Rehearsal at 9:30 in the fellowship hall! Afterward, we will head upstairs for Sunday School with a fun Christmas craft! Don't forget your Sunday School offering!
Church R Us (Grades 4 & 5): Meet us for Christmas Pageant Rehearsal at 9:30 in the fellowship hall! Afterward, you'll head to church with your families before you head to Sunday School with the Middle Schoolers taught by Jen Jacques!
Youth Ministry (6th-12th grade):
- Middle School Sunday School? Yep!
-Youth Group? Nope! Go to the Advent Party from 4-6pm! We'll have youth group Dec. 11th and 18th (3-5pm)!
-The Christmas Party is Dec 23! It's a Progressive Dinner, and it's going to be GREAT!
-The Winter Retreat is January 27-9!
Young Adults (19-not very specific):
We gather together socially on the regular, though somewhat erratically. Contact Stephen Hale in the church office to be kept in the loop!
Adult Sunday School: Bible Study and Discussion in May Day Parlor. Sunday mornings from 9:30-10:15am. Led by Helen Stockwell and Paul Caldwell.
Thursday Pastor's Bible Study:
Thursday mornings from 11:00-noon, in May Day Parlor. All are welcome.
United Methodist News & Events
A Thanksgiving Message from our Bishop
As we prepare for Thanksgiving I am reminded of the political storm in the U.S. we find ourselves in. For some, the question is, “how can we be thankful in the midst of the controversies and conflicts we face.” To me, that is the wrong question. The question should be: “how can we not be thankful for all that God has provided for us as our first response.” ...
Read the rest of Bishop Hagiya's statement here
Our congregation is a part of the El Tordondo Mission Area, in the West District of the California-Pacific Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.
First United Methodist Church of Redondo Beach
243 South Broadway
Redondo Beach, California 90277, United States
310-372-8445 main
310-372-8445 main
310-372-5696 fax
Website
Ongoing Ministries
Free Meal on Wednesday Nights
Offering food and friendship to those in need, every Wednesday night since 1992. More info here.
Desserts Overflowing...
Your generosity has filled our Shared Bread pantry and freezer to the brim!! Your special treats are treasured by our guests, but we've run out of storage space. Our next "dessert drive" will be for our Christmas dinner on Wednesday, December 21. If you would like to donate, just drop off your desserts that week. Thanks for your sweet caring.
This Sunday we welcome back my wife, Eileen, as guest organist/accompanist while MaryAnn is attending a wedding in Chicago. For those of you who haven’t met her yet, Eileen did her Doctorate in pipe organ at USC and spent a year in Germany studying organ at the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg on a German government scholarship. She was music director at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Granada Hills for 17 years before...Music Notes by Jim Raycroft
Ongoing Ministries
Offering food and friendship to those in need, every Wednesday night since 1992. More info here.
Desserts Overflowing...
Your generosity has filled our Shared Bread pantry and freezer to the brim!! Your special treats are treasured by our guests, but we've run out of storage space. Our next "dessert drive" will be for our Christmas dinner on Wednesday, December 21. If you would like to donate, just drop off your desserts that week. Thanks for your sweet caring.
Music Director, Jim Raycroft, will
share upcoming worship music
selections and a little bit of history, too.
Jim Raycroft
Thursday, December 1, 2016 - Music Notes by Jim Raycroft
This Sunday we welcome back my wife, Eileen, as guest organist/accompanist while MaryAnn is attending a wedding in Chicago. For those of you who haven't met her yet, Eileen did her Doctorate in pipe organ at USC and spent a year in Germany studying organ at the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg on a German government scholarship. She was music director at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Granada Hills for 17 years before retiring from church music to concentrate on our kids, who had reached junior high. She's been with us several times in the past, especially Easter Week last year, when she accompanied the choir in a special service on Good Friday (Dale Wood's meaningful Service of Darkness, which we'll be doing again this year) and Easter Sunday morning. She also created the wonderful slide show that accompanied the Easter morning overture, and played the famous Toccata and Fugue in D Minor for our Famous Postludes series back in June.
Her prelude this week is Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, a large chorale prelude by Johann Sebastian Bach (BWV 659). The chorale prelude was a musical form of the Baroque Period (about 1600-1750), which was used more often than not to introduce a hymn about to be sung by a congregation. It was mostly a Protestant art form, and originally based in the Lutheran church. Bach was the greatest exponent of the art form, often improvising them on the fly during the service. The legend is that his chorale preludes became so long, so involved and so flowery that the church council had to have a word with him about toning it down (how long are you going to make us wait for the hymn to start?)
Our guest at the alto sax this week is Jay Cooper, who has a long, distinguished career in the entertainment business. Back in the day, he played with Les Brown, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole, among a great many others. Today, he continues to play, and will join us again on Christmas Eve, but his main gig is as an entertainment attorney. Since he was going to be with us anyway, I thought it would be a great opportunity to let the congregation enjoy the single most famous alto sax tune of all time, Take 5 by Dave Brubeck. Take Five was written by Dave Brubeck's sax player, Paul Desmond, and was recorded on their 1959 album Time Out. For several years in the early 60's it was the theme song for the NBC TV show Today, and by 1961 it was the highest selling jazz single ever. Paul Desmond assigned the royalties after his death to the American Red Cross, which gets about $100,000 a year from it. The gang will play it for the postlude.
How Lovely Are The Messengers is #26 in the oratorio St. Paul by Felix Mendelssohn. The piece was written over a period of 4 years, with the composer and the librettist (childhood friend Pastor Julius Schubring) beginning to assemble the libretto in 1832. Composition of the music began in 1834 and the piece was completed and premiered in May of 1836 in Düsseldorf. The English version premiered in Liverpool 5 months later in October of that year in a translation by Mendelssohn's friend, Karl Klingermann. During Mendelssohn's lifetime, St. Paul was a popular and frequently performed work, but in modern times it hasn't achieved the popularity of other classic works like the Messiah or the Passions of Bach.
The band Hillsong United was formed in 1998 from close friends within the Hillsong youth ministry (called "Powerhouse Youth"). So many songs were being written within the youth ministry that it was suggested they make an album. The songs One and Everyday were recorded and released with the annual Hillsong worship album in 1999. They both achieved gold sales status in Australia, and the band has gone on to win five Dove Awards in 2014 and were nominated for an American Music Award and won the Billboard Music Award Top Christian Artist in 2015. Their song You'll Come was released as part of the live album The I Heart Revolution: With Hearts As One, which came out in Australia in 2008 and later internationally. It was released in CD and digital formats, but was also released on a 1 gigabyte flash drive attached to a rubber arm band, and contained the music in MP3 format, lyrics, a PDF of the liner sleeve and 2 versions of the album cover. The album peaked on the ARIA Charts at #8 in March of 2008, where it remained for 3 weeks.
Written in 1984, Canadian song writer Leonard Cohen struggled with his song "Hallelujah", writing as many as 80 verses before paring it down to the song we know. It was named one of the 500 Best Songs by Rolling Stone magazine, in 2005 Chart magazine named it the 10th best Canadian song, and on December 21, 2008 became the first song in 51 years to be both #1 and #2 on the UK Singles Chart. But, it's John Cale's soulful rendition used in the movie Shrek that most of us know and love. His recent passing, at the age of 82 in his home here in Los Angeles, caused a surge in interest in his music, with sales skyrocketing.
Read more about our music here!
Our choir is back for the fall, and regular rehearsals have moved to Thursday evenings! Join the choir for rehearsal each Thursday, from 7:30 to 9pm in the Choir Room. Contact Jim Raycroft for more info.
United Methodist Women’s Reading Program Any one can read the books and our own local UMW unit will get credit! click here for information about the program.
Support missions through recycling!
Bring your plastic bottles, aluminum cans AND CRV glass bottles to church every Sunday. By recycling we can support Corazon, Crop Walk, Habitat for Humanity and some of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) programs: Syrian refugee relief, eradicating hunger, clean water, ending malaria and fighting HIV/AIDS. Please bring your cans and bottles.
We have many spots to fill for liturgists on Sunday mornings. The following link will take you the sign up. Please check it out.
Sunday Worship Liturgist Sign Up
Parking Reminder: If you are able, we encourage you to park at the Wells Fargo bank on Sunday mornings, and walk across the street, reserving the parking lot for those with mobility challenges or for new visitors. We also have a bike rack on the patio. Thanks for your consideration.
Hearing Assistance Devices are available on Sunday mornings. Just ask for one at the audio/video booth in the sanctuary.
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Connect with us
share upcoming worship music
selections and a little bit of history, too.
Jim Raycroft
Thursday, December 1, 2016 - Music Notes by Jim Raycroft
This Sunday we welcome back my wife, Eileen, as guest organist/accompanist while MaryAnn is attending a wedding in Chicago. For those of you who haven't met her yet, Eileen did her Doctorate in pipe organ at USC and spent a year in Germany studying organ at the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg on a German government scholarship. She was music director at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Granada Hills for 17 years before retiring from church music to concentrate on our kids, who had reached junior high. She's been with us several times in the past, especially Easter Week last year, when she accompanied the choir in a special service on Good Friday (Dale Wood's meaningful Service of Darkness, which we'll be doing again this year) and Easter Sunday morning. She also created the wonderful slide show that accompanied the Easter morning overture, and played the famous Toccata and Fugue in D Minor for our Famous Postludes series back in June.
Her prelude this week is Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, a large chorale prelude by Johann Sebastian Bach (BWV 659). The chorale prelude was a musical form of the Baroque Period (about 1600-1750), which was used more often than not to introduce a hymn about to be sung by a congregation. It was mostly a Protestant art form, and originally based in the Lutheran church. Bach was the greatest exponent of the art form, often improvising them on the fly during the service. The legend is that his chorale preludes became so long, so involved and so flowery that the church council had to have a word with him about toning it down (how long are you going to make us wait for the hymn to start?)
Our guest at the alto sax this week is Jay Cooper, who has a long, distinguished career in the entertainment business. Back in the day, he played with Les Brown, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole, among a great many others. Today, he continues to play, and will join us again on Christmas Eve, but his main gig is as an entertainment attorney. Since he was going to be with us anyway, I thought it would be a great opportunity to let the congregation enjoy the single most famous alto sax tune of all time, Take 5 by Dave Brubeck. Take Five was written by Dave Brubeck's sax player, Paul Desmond, and was recorded on their 1959 album Time Out. For several years in the early 60's it was the theme song for the NBC TV show Today, and by 1961 it was the highest selling jazz single ever. Paul Desmond assigned the royalties after his death to the American Red Cross, which gets about $100,000 a year from it. The gang will play it for the postlude.
How Lovely Are The Messengers is #26 in the oratorio St. Paul by Felix Mendelssohn. The piece was written over a period of 4 years, with the composer and the librettist (childhood friend Pastor Julius Schubring) beginning to assemble the libretto in 1832. Composition of the music began in 1834 and the piece was completed and premiered in May of 1836 in Düsseldorf. The English version premiered in Liverpool 5 months later in October of that year in a translation by Mendelssohn's friend, Karl Klingermann. During Mendelssohn's lifetime, St. Paul was a popular and frequently performed work, but in modern times it hasn't achieved the popularity of other classic works like the Messiah or the Passions of Bach.
The band Hillsong United was formed in 1998 from close friends within the Hillsong youth ministry (called "Powerhouse Youth"). So many songs were being written within the youth ministry that it was suggested they make an album. The songs One and Everyday were recorded and released with the annual Hillsong worship album in 1999. They both achieved gold sales status in Australia, and the band has gone on to win five Dove Awards in 2014 and were nominated for an American Music Award and won the Billboard Music Award Top Christian Artist in 2015. Their song You'll Come was released as part of the live album The I Heart Revolution: With Hearts As One, which came out in Australia in 2008 and later internationally. It was released in CD and digital formats, but was also released on a 1 gigabyte flash drive attached to a rubber arm band, and contained the music in MP3 format, lyrics, a PDF of the liner sleeve and 2 versions of the album cover. The album peaked on the ARIA Charts at #8 in March of 2008, where it remained for 3 weeks.
Written in 1984, Canadian song writer Leonard Cohen struggled with his song "Hallelujah", writing as many as 80 verses before paring it down to the song we know. It was named one of the 500 Best Songs by Rolling Stone magazine, in 2005 Chart magazine named it the 10th best Canadian song, and on December 21, 2008 became the first song in 51 years to be both #1 and #2 on the UK Singles Chart. But, it's John Cale's soulful rendition used in the movie Shrek that most of us know and love. His recent passing, at the age of 82 in his home here in Los Angeles, caused a surge in interest in his music, with sales skyrocketing.
Read more about our music here!
Our choir is back for the fall, and regular rehearsals have moved to Thursday evenings! Join the choir for rehearsal each Thursday, from 7:30 to 9pm in the Choir Room. Contact Jim Raycroft for more info.
United Methodist Women’s Reading Program Any one can read the books and our own local UMW unit will get credit! click here for information about the program.
Support missions through recycling!
Bring your plastic bottles, aluminum cans AND CRV glass bottles to church every Sunday. By recycling we can support Corazon, Crop Walk, Habitat for Humanity and some of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) programs: Syrian refugee relief, eradicating hunger, clean water, ending malaria and fighting HIV/AIDS. Please bring your cans and bottles.
We have many spots to fill for liturgists on Sunday mornings. The following link will take you the sign up. Please check it out.
Sunday Worship Liturgist Sign Up
Parking Reminder: If you are able, we encourage you to park at the Wells Fargo bank on Sunday mornings, and walk across the street, reserving the parking lot for those with mobility challenges or for new visitors. We also have a bike rack on the patio. Thanks for your consideration.
Hearing Assistance Devices are available on Sunday mornings. Just ask for one at the audio/video booth in the sanctuary.
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Connect with us
First United Methodist Church of Redondo Beach
243 South Broadway
Redondo Beach, California 90277, United States
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